Oklahoma Bombing Speech History Behind the Speech
The Oklahoma Bombing occured on April 19,1995. A man by the name of Timothy McVeigh drove a truck bomb underneath the Alfred P Murrah Building in Oklahoma City and set it off. The buiding collapsed and 168 people were killed. Two other men, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier was arressted for conspiring with and aiding McVeigh. McVeigh was given lethal injection, Nichols is currently serving life in prison, and Fortier was released 2 years ago into the Witness Protection Program.
S- William Clinton
P- To discuss and share encouraging stories from those whose families were involved in the bombing and to convince citizens that America will stand up and control the mayhem that has occured because of the bombing.
A- The families who lost loved one, the people of Oklahoma City, and the rest of the nation.
M- Given as a televised speech. Reached the ears and eyes of Americans who were following the news as well as those who were oblivious to it.
Rhetorical Devices
Anaphora
"We mourn with you. We share your hope against hope that some may still survive. We thank all those who have worked so heroically to save lives and to solve this crime -- those here in Oklahoma and those across this great land, and many who left their own lives to come here to work hand in hand with you. We pledge to do all we can to help you heal the injured, to rebuild this city, and to bring justice to those who did this evil." "We" is a reference to the entire U.S.A. Clinton is saying that the entire nation will join together to mourn the death of loved ones, pray that others may survive, and do all they can to rebuild the city to it's original glory.
"...who worked to help the elderly and the disabled, who worked to support our farmers and our veterans, who worked to enforce our laws and to protect us.
This is a reference to the people who were killed when the building collapsed. Clinton is listing the things that these people did to serve their country and it's citizens.
"Let us teach our children that the God of comfort is also the God of righteousness: Those who trouble thier own house will inherit the wind. Justice we prevail. Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. In the face of death, let us honor life. As St. Paul admonished us, let us 'not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'"
"Us" is a reference to the American people. Clinton believes that all people should stand up against the evils that surround them so that life and good things may prevail.
Epistrophe
"'If anybody thinks that Americans are mostly mean and selfish, they ought to come to Oklahoma. If anybody thinks Americans have lost the capacity for love and caring and courage, they ought to come to Oklahoma.
Clinton is saying that any person who believes that Americans are unable of banding together and helping one another shoud go to Oklahoma because here si evidence that proves these people wrong.
Asyndeton
"But I have to tell you that Hillary and I also come as parents, as husband and wife, as people who were your neighbors for some of the best years of our lives.
Clinton is saying he is not only the president and representative of the American people but he is also like a relative or close personal friend of these people. Allusions
"Let us 'not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'"
This is a reference to Romans 12:21 in the bible. Clinton is saying that we should let bad things control our lives but we should do good things to counteract the bad things that happen.
"...that the life of a good person is like a tree whose leaf does not wither."
This is a reference to Psalm 92:12-15. Clinton means that a person who commits good deeds will leave an everlasting mark and the world and this will never go away.
Appeals Ethos
Bill Clinton is president at the time.
President is the highest ranking government job so Clinton has an influence on events that occur in our country. People know who he is and therefore are also willing
to listen to him when he speaks.
Pathos
"The anger you feel is valid, but you must not allow youselves to be consumed by it. The hurt you feel must not be allowed to turn into hate, but instead into the search for justice. The loss you feel must not paralyze your own lives. Instead, you must try to pay tribute to your loved ones by continuing to do all the things they left undone, thus ensuring they did not die in vain."
This is an obvious appeal to the emotions of those who had loved one that were killed or injured. He says that rather than feeling hurt, angry, or paralyzed by the loss, the people should aid the search for those involved and pay tribute to those who died so they didn't die for nothing.
Logos
The president speaks about previous events that have impacted our country like this such as the Pan Am 103 bombing.
Clinton uses previous event to show that this isn't the first time our country has faced a great tragedy and we can overcome this one.
Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People History Behind the Speech
This speech was given by President Bush on September 20th, 2001 to commemorate the two planes that crased into the world Trade
Center and two other planes that crashed 9 days prior. The terrorist activity was found to be commmited by the Taliban regime and this led
to a "War on Terrorism." 2,998 people were killed between the four planes, the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.
S- George W. Bush
P- To recap Americas feelings on the 9/11 attacks and the show that the U.S. is united more now than ever.
A- Congress and fellow Americans
M- Given as a televised speech. This allowed Bush to enter the homes of every person and seem as if he was speaking to them personally
and really talking to them.
Rhetorical Devices Anaphora
"We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to savve others on the ground - passengers like an exceptional man
named Todd Bearner. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Bearner, here tonight. We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers - in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of
strangers their own."
"We" is a reference to all Americans. Bush is saying all of the things that have happened in American since 9/11 and how each person is doing their part to aid those whose loved ones died.
Allusion
"Americans have know wars - but for the past 136 years, they have ben wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941."
This is a reference to Pearl Harbor when the Japanese bombed us.
Rhetorical Question
"Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war?"
Bush is saying that the Americans are questioning how the U.S. can win a war on American soil. Bush believes it can be done using every means availiable.
Antithesis
"Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."
Bush is saying that all those who can't act as Americans and aid the effort are no better than the terrorists who attacked us.
Appeals
Ethos
Bush is the president of the U.S. at this time
Since the presidentcy is the highest government office, Bush has the most power and commands atttention.
Pathos
"Americans have know wars - but for the past 136 years, they have ben wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941. Americans have known the casualties of war - but not at the center of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans hve known surprise attacks - but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon the worlds in a single day - and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack."
This is Bush's largest example of Pathos in his speech. He is saying that freedom is under attack which is everything that America stands for. This is meant to strike a need for action in the people who are watching.
Logos
Bush uses past dates to show another attack on our country but not one like this. He also uses statistic about starting a war and how it will turn out.
He says that we were unfairly attackes and could easily win a "War on Terror" against Iraq.
History Behind the Speech
The Oklahoma Bombing occured on April 19,1995. A man by the name of Timothy McVeigh drove a truck bomb underneath the Alfred P Murrah Building in Oklahoma City and set it off. The buiding collapsed and 168 people were killed. Two other men, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier was arressted for conspiring with and aiding McVeigh. McVeigh was given lethal injection, Nichols is currently serving life in prison, and Fortier was released 2 years ago into the Witness Protection Program.
S- William Clinton
P- To discuss and share encouraging stories from those whose families were involved in the bombing and to convince citizens that America will stand up and control the mayhem that has occured because of the bombing.
A- The families who lost loved one, the people of Oklahoma City, and the rest of the nation.
M- Given as a televised speech. Reached the ears and eyes of Americans who were following the news as well as those who were oblivious to it.
Rhetorical Devices
Anaphora
"We mourn with you. We share your hope against hope that some may still survive. We thank all those who have worked so heroically to save lives and to solve this crime -- those here in Oklahoma and those across this great land, and many who left their own lives to come here to work hand in hand with you. We pledge to do all we can to help you heal the injured, to rebuild this city, and to bring justice to those who did this evil."
"We" is a reference to the entire U.S.A. Clinton is saying that the entire nation will join together to mourn the death of loved ones, pray that others may survive, and do all they can to rebuild the city to it's original glory.
"...who worked to help the elderly and the disabled, who worked to support our farmers and our veterans, who worked to enforce our laws and to protect us.
This is a reference to the people who were killed when the building collapsed. Clinton is listing the things that these people did to serve their country and it's citizens.
"Let us teach our children that the God of comfort is also the God of righteousness: Those who trouble thier own house will inherit the wind. Justice we prevail. Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. In the face of death, let us honor life. As St. Paul admonished us, let us 'not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'"
"Us" is a reference to the American people. Clinton believes that all people should stand up against the evils that surround them so that life and good things may prevail.
Epistrophe
"'If anybody thinks that Americans are mostly mean and selfish, they ought to come to Oklahoma. If anybody thinks Americans have lost the capacity for love and caring and courage, they ought to come to Oklahoma.
Clinton is saying that any person who believes that Americans are unable of banding together and helping one another shoud go to Oklahoma because here si evidence that proves these people wrong.
Asyndeton
"But I have to tell you that Hillary and I also come as parents, as husband and wife, as people who were your neighbors for some of the best years of our lives.
Clinton is saying he is not only the president and representative of the American people but he is also like a relative or close personal friend of these people.
Allusions
"Let us 'not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'"
This is a reference to Romans 12:21 in the bible. Clinton is saying that we should let bad things control our lives but we should do good things to counteract the bad things that happen.
"...that the life of a good person is like a tree whose leaf does not wither."
This is a reference to Psalm 92:12-15. Clinton means that a person who commits good deeds will leave an everlasting mark and the world and this will never go away.
Appeals
Ethos
Bill Clinton is president at the time.
President is the highest ranking government job so Clinton has an influence on events that occur in our country. People know who he is and therefore are also willing
to listen to him when he speaks.
Pathos
"The anger you feel is valid, but you must not allow youselves to be consumed by it. The hurt you feel must not be allowed to turn into hate, but instead into the search for justice. The loss you feel must not paralyze your own lives. Instead, you must try to pay tribute to your loved ones by continuing to do all the things they left undone, thus ensuring they did not die in vain."
This is an obvious appeal to the emotions of those who had loved one that were killed or injured. He says that rather than feeling hurt, angry, or paralyzed by the loss, the people should aid the search for those involved and pay tribute to those who died so they didn't die for nothing.
Logos
The president speaks about previous events that have impacted our country like this such as the Pan Am 103 bombing.
Clinton uses previous event to show that this isn't the first time our country has faced a great tragedy and we can overcome this one.
Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People
History Behind the Speech
This speech was given by President Bush on September 20th, 2001 to commemorate the two planes that crased into the world Trade
Center and two other planes that crashed 9 days prior. The terrorist activity was found to be commmited by the Taliban regime and this led
to a "War on Terrorism." 2,998 people were killed between the four planes, the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.
S- George W. Bush
P- To recap Americas feelings on the 9/11 attacks and the show that the U.S. is united more now than ever.
A- Congress and fellow Americans
M- Given as a televised speech. This allowed Bush to enter the homes of every person and seem as if he was speaking to them personally
and really talking to them.
Rhetorical Devices
Anaphora
"We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to savve others on the ground - passengers like an exceptional man
named Todd Bearner. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Bearner, here tonight. We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers - in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of
strangers their own."
"We" is a reference to all Americans. Bush is saying all of the things that have happened in American since 9/11 and how each person is doing their part to aid those whose loved ones died.
Allusion
"Americans have know wars - but for the past 136 years, they have ben wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941."
This is a reference to Pearl Harbor when the Japanese bombed us.
Rhetorical Question
"Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war?"
Bush is saying that the Americans are questioning how the U.S. can win a war on American soil. Bush believes it can be done using every means availiable.
Antithesis
"Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."
Bush is saying that all those who can't act as Americans and aid the effort are no better than the terrorists who attacked us.
Appeals
Ethos
Bush is the president of the U.S. at this time
Since the presidentcy is the highest government office, Bush has the most power and commands atttention.
Pathos
"Americans have know wars - but for the past 136 years, they have ben wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941. Americans have known the casualties of war - but not at the center of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans hve known surprise attacks - but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon the worlds in a single day - and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack."
This is Bush's largest example of Pathos in his speech. He is saying that freedom is under attack which is everything that America stands for. This is meant to strike a need for action in the people who are watching.
Logos
Bush uses past dates to show another attack on our country but not one like this. He also uses statistic about starting a war and how it will turn out.
He says that we were unfairly attackes and could easily win a "War on Terror" against Iraq.